With the giant TTIP and TiSA negotiations off the agenda in the coming months and possibly years one would believe trade officials in the European Commission would have some extra time on their hands to deal with other negotiations and trade files. Yet there’s one file they are clearly …
EU FTAs & bilateral ties
EU and Mexico hold second round of free trade negotiations – in shadow of Trump and Brexit
This week, the EU and Mexico have been holding a second round of negotiations to upgrade their fifteen year old free trade agreement. The two sides have so far talked mainly about the scope and format of talks, little about actual substance. The UK’s exit from the EU and the election of …
Strong far right support for failed CETA ECJ referral resolution
VoteWatch.eu has released the details of yesterday’s (23 November 2016) vote on a resolution requesting the European Parliament to ask the Court of Justice to verify the legal compatibility of the EU-Canada trade agreement (CETA) proponents hope to see come into force provisionally in early 2017. The left-wing move has …
In brief: EU India – what’s the noise all about?
Much has been said about the recent termination by India of its bilateral investment treaty with the Netherlands’s contribution to the stalling of attempts to revive and EU-India free trade accord (BTIA). In fact it’s not the terminations that are determinant here. It’s the substance of the FTA. India …
In brief: Obama and Merkel on TTIP
Still talking about TTIP? Well TTIP, the controversial transatlatantic trade agreement launched in 2013 is not for now. With Donald Trump just elected as US president, the Obama administration winding down and the French and Germans bracing for difficult elections next year. Yet the two most powerful players in the TTIP game …
EU “sleeping” on China Belt and Road project – former Europe Minister
Bruno Macaes, a former Europe minister of Portugal and author of a forthcoming book entitles We are all Eurasians Now, says the EU should pay more attention to China’s industrial policies in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. With the United States retreating on the global trade policy scene in …
EU Japan FTA gives signs of life
There is movement behind the scenes on the EU Japan FTA, under negotiation since 2013. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet is reportedly gearing up work on the final steps to finalise the talks – which have hinged on final auto and agriculture issues. Now that the Diet in Tokyo ratified the TPP …
Updated: trade in the Parliament 21-24 November
The European Parliament is sitting in a plenary session from 21 t0 24 November 2016. A few agenda highlights: The Parliament will vote on a package of measures to combat wildlife trafficking on Tuesday (22 November). The report by MEP Catherine Bearder broadly endorses a plan presented by the Commission. It calls …
Trump factor: Commission also sees opportunity to advance own trade agenda
Trade professionals in Brussels are shocked and depressed following the victory of trade-sceptic Donald Trump in the US elections. The flagship but fledgling transatlantic TTIP is seen as frozen, or dead, at least for the time being. But some also see opportunity in this dire situation. The Transpacific Partnership Agreement …
Mexico and Uganda alcoholic beverages laws in EU limelight
The EU is looking after its alcoholic beverages industry in the WTO, the latest WTO meeting on technical barriers to trade reveals. The Commission is putting pressure on Colombia with a pending case on its domestic laws on alcoholic beverage marketing arrangements and taxes. Is it now setting its sights on Mexico and …
